Portable terminal

ABSTRACT

A portable terminal is disclosed and which is adapted to display thereon a plurality of functions as a menu for allowing a desired one of the plurality of functions to be selected and executed, comprising: a detailed menu encompassing various functions of the overall portable terminal; a simplified menu including highly frequently used functions which are extracted from those of the detailed menu and having a hierarchy structure different from that of the detailed menu; and display switching means for switching between said first menu and said second menu to be displayed exclusively from each other. The portable terminal thus constructed is excellent in its operability in particular for users who are aged or unfamiliar with the portable terminal by the provision of the simplified and detailed for execution of readily menu manipulation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates generally to a portable terminal adaptedto display thereon a plurality functions as a menu for allowing adesired one of the plurality of functions to be selected and executed,and more particularly, it relates to a portable terminal adapted todisplay thereon one of two menus independently from each other.

2. Description of the Related Art

There is known a portable terminal such as a portable telephone set,which displays as a menu a plurality of functions, e.g., functions forreceiving and/or transmitting e-mail and for setting a timer, and allowsa user to select and execute a desired one among the functions of themenu. By means of such a menu operation or manipulation, predeterminedfunctions can readily be executed through a simple manipulation andtherefore it is very convenient for the portable telephone set which isoften operated with one hand. Thus, a recently developed portableterminal is designed to display thereon various functions as a menu toallow each of functions to be selected and executed. Accordingly, such amenu must clearly be displayed on a display screen of the portableterminal to enable a user to view and select one of the functions forits execution.

However, as the number of functions to be displayed on the displayscreen as a menu is increased, it will be gradually difficult to viewand confirm functions of the menu individually. Therefore, it is verydifficult to readily select a desired one of the functions of the menu,as result of which it will be deteriorated in operability particularlyfor users who are aged or have weak eyesight.

On the other hand, such functions as being used commonly and frequentlyby many users are only a few functions of all functions displayed as amenu in a conventional portable terminal.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portableterminal capable of displaying many functions as a menu and particularlycapable of easily viewing frequently used functions, thereby providing aportable terminal which is highly excellent in operability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a portable terminal adapted todisplay thereon a plurality of functions as a menu for allowing adesired one of the plurality of functions to be selected and executed,comprising: said menu including first and second menus, each having ahierarchy structure, respectively; said second menu having a menu forsupporting all of functions of said portable terminal; said first menubeing composed of functions extracted from those of said second menu andhaving the hierarchy structure different from that of said second menu;and display switching means for switching between said first menu andsaid second menu to be displayed.

As an example of the portable terminal according to the presentinvention, a portable telephone set may be exemplified for here. Forexample, if a detailed menu encompassing various functions of theoverall portable telephone set is used as the second menu, somefunctions which are included in functions of the second menu are used asthe first menu, and menu items composing the first menu are positionedon a shallower hierarchy than that on which corresponding menu items ofthe second menu are positioned, then a user can easily access a desiredone of the menu items included in the first menu. Thus, a certainfunction can be selected and executed by switching between menusaccording to a purpose for using the portable telephone set andtherefore the portable telephone-set is excellent in its operability forusers inclusive of users who are aged or unfamiliar to the portabletelephone set.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the functions ofwhich said first menu is composed can be set to frequently usedfunctions extracted from those of the second menu. Specifically, thereis provided, as well as a detailed menu including many functions, asimplified menu having only frequently used functions which areextracted and independent from functions of the detailed menu.Therefore, users can switch these two menus from one to another.Consequently, the portable telephone set having such a highly viewablesimplified menu enables users who are aged or unfamiliar to the portabletelephone set to view and select a desired one of the functions of thesimplified for its execution. According to the present invention, thereis provided a portable telephone set which is highly excellent in itsoperability.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, each of thefirst and second menus includes a display switching function as a menuitem for switching from one to another, the display switching meansbeing activated upon execution of the display switching function.Therefore, the portable terminal is excellent in its operability becausetwo menus can be switched from one to another by means of the displayswitching function.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, thefirst and second menus have hierarchy structures, respectively, and thedisplay switching function of the first menu is positioned on a deeperhierarchy than that of the display switching function of the secondmenu. Specifically, each of a simplified menu (the first menu) anddetailed menu (the second menu) is composed of three levels orhierarchies for major items, medium items and minor items. An item forthe display switching function of the simplified menu is provided on thelevel of medium items thereof while one for the detailed menu isprovided on the level of major items thereof. Accordingly, it isnecessary to take only one step for switching from the detailed menu tothe simplified menu, while it is necessary to take two steps forswitching from the simplified menu to the detailed menu. Consequently,it is possible to prevent users who are aged or unfamiliar with theportable terminal (e.g., the portable telephone set) from erroneouslyswitching directly from the simplified menu to the detailed menu. Also,even after switched to the detailed menu, it is possible to easilyreturn to the simplified menu.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, thefirst and second menus are stored in separate memory regions differentfrom each other. Due to this configuration, these simplified anddetailed menus are held independently from each other so that thesemenus can be displayed exclusively from each other. Consequently, it isavoidable to confuse users during their menu manipulations because,during displaying one menu which has been selected as a setup image,there is no tendency to switch to another menu. In particular, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention, predetermined data used forexecution of these menus are stored in a common memory region so thatdata managements can be unified and prevention of increase of memory canbe achieved.

In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, theportable terminal further comprises vocally displaying means for vocallydisplaying predetermined operation contents displayed as the first menu.In particular, the vocally displaying means is capable of, uponselection of any one of functions of the first menu, vocalizing theselected function. According to an embodiment of the present invention,if any one of items is designated by a cursor during display of thesimplified menu, that designated item is vocalized by referring to avoice library stored in a memory via the sound source LSI. Also, thepreviously stated display switching means is capable of displaying thefirst menu by using larger letters in comparison with those used on saidsecond menu. It advantageously allows users who are aged or have weakeyesight to easily read such menu items. Also, the number-of the menuitems is about 3 items at most, as a result of which their items arehighly viewable so as to select one of them with ease. It leads to animproved operability of the portable terminal.

Furthermore, if the portable terminal is configured to display thereonsuch a simplified menu preferentially upon power-up of the portableterminal, then it is convenient for a user who preferentially use thesimplified menu because of omission of laborious steps for switching tothe simplified menu. It leads to a further improved operability of theportable terminal. Also, it is possible to prevent users who are aged orunfamiliar with the portable terminal (e.g., the portable telephone set)from erroneously switching from the simplified menu to the detailedmenu. Also, even after switched to the detailed menu, it is possible toeasily return to the simplified menu upon reactivation of the portableterminal after turning off and then on the power supply in the eventthat the user is confused in the menu manipulation during display of thedetailed menu.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a portable telephone set according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2(a) shows a configuration example of a simplified menu used forthe portable telephone set according to the embodiment;

FIG. 2(b) shows a configuration example of a detailed menu used for theportable telephone set;

FIG. 3(a) shows an exemplary displaying example of the simplified menu;

FIG. 3(b) shows an exemplary displaying example of the detailed menu;

FIG. 4 is a control flow-chart for a menu-switching operation;

FIG. 5 shows a menu manipulation for switching from the simplified menuto the detailed menu;

FIG. 6 shows a menu manipulation for switching from the detailed menu tothe simplified menu;

FIG. 7(a) shows a configuration example of a simplified menu accordingto another embodiment; and

FIG. 7(b) shows a configuration example of a detailed menu according toanother embodiment

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter a preferred embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Thepresent preferred embodiment will be exemplified by a portable telephoneset, which is adapted to display thereon a detailed menu having manyexecutable functions and display thereon a simplified menu having onlyfrequently used functions extracted from functions of the detailed menu,thereby reducing the number of menu items as compared with ones of thedetailed menu. In the preferred embodiment as set forth below, anexample concerning controlling operation or manipulation of a menu anddisplay will be described in detail.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing aportable telephone set of the preferable embodiment according to thepresent invention. The portable telephone set comprises: an antenna 1for receiving a radio wave; a wireless transmitting/receiving portion 2connected to the antenna 1; a base-band processing portion 3; an inputoperating portion 5 into which telephone number and/or information isinputted by a user's key-operation; a memory 6 in which various data arestored, a display-controlling portion 7; a sound source/voice LSI 8 foroutputting a sound/voice; an interface(IF) 9; a speaker 10; a microphone11; and controlling portion 4. The controlling portion 4 is connected tothe previously-stated portions and particularly, via the sound/voicesource LSI 8 and IF 9, connected to the speaker 10 and microphone 11.The memory 6 comprises: a simplified menu configuring portion 6 a forstoring data used to configure the simplified menu; a detailed menuconfiguring portion 6 b for storing data used to configure the detailedmenu; an input data recording portion 6 c for recording data and settingvalues inputted by a user; a history portion 6 d for storing incomingand outgoing call histories of the portable telephone set; and asound/voice library 6 e for storing various sound/voice data used tovocalize the simplified menu items and the like.

FIG. 2(a) illustrates a configuration example of the simplified menu andFIG. 2(b) illustrates a configuration example of the detailed menu. Thecontrolling portion 4 read from the simplified or detailed menu portions6 a, 6 b data required for displaying on a display screen (not shown)either one of the menus controlled by the display-controlling portion 7.Specifically, it should be noted that each of the simplified anddetailed menus is composed of three levels or hierarchies, i.e., majoritems, medium items and minor items. The simplified menu is composed ofrelatively frequently used functions of the detailed menu functions. InFIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), there are shown corresponding items between thesimplified and detailed menus connected together by lines. It should beappreciated that the simplified and detailed menus are independent ofeach other. Hence, there is no occurrence that these simplified anddetailed menus can be switched from one to another, except by executinga menu switching 20. As is clear from the FIG. 2 representation, acertain item among the minor items of the detailed menu may be itemizedas one of the major or medium items of the simplified menu. Thesimplified menu is thus configured to readily access frequently usedfunctions thereof.

FIG. 3(a) shows an exemplary displaying example of the simplified menuand FIG. 3(b) shows an exemplary displaying example of the detailedmenu. As is clear from FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), the simplified menu isdisplayed on the display screen by using larger letters in comparisonwith those used on the detailed menu (in the present embodiment, thesimplified menu uses letters of 20 dots and the detailed menu usesletters of 12 dots) so that the number of the menu items is about 3items at most, as a result of which their items are highly viewable soas to select one of them with ease. As compared with the simplifiedmenu, the detailed menu is displayed on the display screen by usingsmaller letters so as to show more menu items.

According to this embodiment of the present invention, if any one ofitems is designated by a cursor during display of the simplified menu,that designated item is vocalized by referring to the sound/voicelibrary 6 e stored in the memory 6 via the sound/voice source LSI 8. InFIG. 3(a), the cursor is placed on an item “RETRIEVE INCOMING CALLER” sothat the name of incoming caller is vocally outputted by referring tovocal data corresponding to the item “RETRIEVE INCOMING CALLER”retrieved from the sound/voice library 6 e. It is also possible to setsuch a vocal output to be prohibited by manipulating the simplifiedmenu.

Upon activation of the portable telephone set, the simplified menu isnormally displayed on the display screen. When it is desired to switchfrom the simplified menu to the detailed menu and execute a function ofthe detailed menu, a user can select an item “SWITCHING TO DETAILEDMENU” on the display screen during displaying the simplified menu. Onthe contrary, if desired to return from the detailed menu to thesimplified menu during displaying the detailed menu, it is possible toselect an item “RETURNING TO THE SIMPLIFIED MENU” on the display screenduring displaying the detailed menu. In FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), asdesignated by a reference numeral 20 for a menu switching, a level orhierarchy of a function for the menu switching differs between thesimplified and detailed menus. Specifically, the item “SWITCHING TODETAILED MENU” of the simplified menu is positioned as one of the mediumitems on a level of which it is relatively difficult to perform themenu-switching operation, while the item “RETURNING TO SIMPLIFIED MENU”of the detailed menu is positioned as one of the major items on a levelof which it is relatively easily to perform the menu-switching operationwith less procedures as compared with that of the simplified menu. Dueto this, it is possible to reduce mis-operations so as to erroneouslyswitch from the simplified menu to the detailed menu by users who areaged or unfamiliar to the portable telephone set. However, even iferroneously switched from the simplified menu to the detailed menu, itis possible to return to the simplified menu with ease.

FIG. 4 is a control flow-chart for the menu-switching operation asdescribed above. In step 100, firstly a user powers up the portabletelephone set. Upon activation, an initial picture is displayed on thedisplay screen by the controlling portion 4 (step 101). After thedisplay of the initial picture, the controlling portion 4 furtherdisplays on the display screen the simplified menu set as a default(step 102). At this point, if instructed to switch from the simplifiedmenu to the detailed menu (step 103, YES), the detailed menu isdisplayed on the display screen by the controlling portion 4.

A menu operation or manipulation for switching to the detailed menu isexemplarily shown in FIG. 5 and its switching procedures are as follows:

In FIG. 5(a), the cursor is firstly placed on a display of “INITIALSETTINGS (or INITIAL SETTINGS TO BE FIRSTLY PERFORMED)” as one of themajor items of the simplified menu and then a display of “DECISION”button is depressed. Then, a medium item menu of the “INITIAL SETTINGS”appears on the display screen as shown in FIG. 5(b). Subsequently, adisplay of “SWITCHING TO DETAILED MENU” is selected by placing thecursor thereon and the “DECISION” button is depressed. Consequently, adisplay screen for a switching setting appears as shown in FIG. 5(c). Asa display of “DO YOU SWITCH TO DETAILED MENU?” appears, a display of“YES” is selected by the cursor and the “DECISION” button is depressed.If various menus are placed in a vocalized mode, it is of coursepossible to vocalize letters displayed on the display screen at the timewhen the cursor is placed thereon. Thus, if the switching to thedetailed menu is instructed on the display screen as shown in FIG. 5(c),then the detailed menu appears on the screen as shown in FIG. 5(d).

Returning to FIG. 4, if an instruction for switching to the simplifiedmenu is given during display of the detailed menu (step 105, YES), thesimplified menu is displayed on the display screen by the controllingportion 4 (step 102).

An example of the menu manipulation for switching to the simplified menuis shown in FIG. 6. A display of “CHANGE TO SIMPLIFIED MENU” as one ofthe major items of the detailed menu is selected by placing the cursorthereon and then decision button is depressed as shown in FIG. 6(a).Immediately thereafter, the detailed menu is switched to the simplifiedmenu on the display screen. Although the switching from the simplifiedmenu to the detailed menu needs to sequentially execute severalprocedures with some complication, the switching from the detailed menuto the simplified menu is relatively easily performed.

Also, when the portable telephone set is reactivated (steps 106 and100), the simplified menu will be normally displayed after the initialdisplay screen (step 102). In this manner, since the simplified menu isused as a default according to this embodiment, it is surely enabled toreturn the display screen to the simplified menu by turning off and thenon the power supply in the event that the user is confused in the menumanipulation.

According to this embodiment of the present invention, it is alsopossible to customize the simplified and detailed menus depending onuser's taste. Although not illustrated in the drawings, each of thesimplified and detailed menus has menu items for executing such acustomizing function. The customization such as deletion of a certainmenu item, rearrangement of the menu items, modification of thehierarchy structure and the like, can easily be executed on the displayscreen of the portable telephone set. In this case, there is provided inthe memory 6 memory regions for storing such customized simplified-menuand detailed-menu configuring portions, aside from memory regions forthe simplified menu configuring portion 6 a and detailed menuconfiguring portion 6b.

According to this embodiment of the present invention, even if the menuhas been customized in this manner, the simplified menu in a statebefore the customization would always been displayed on the displayscreen upon activation of the portable telephone set. Also, if theportable telephone set has such four menus (the simplified andcustomized simplified menus and the detailed and customized detailedmenus) stored therein (not shown), it is possible to switch among thefour menus for selecting one of them and display it on the displayscreen. On the contrary, it is possible to prohibit a directly switchingfrom the simplified menu after the customization to the detailed menubefore the customization (or from the detailed menu after thecustomization to the simplified menu before the customization).

According to this embodiment of the present invention, there can belisted, on the simplified menu, menu items which is not extracted fromitems of the detailed menu (e.g., a medium item “SETTING VOCALIZATION”of the major item “INITIAL SETTINGS”). The present invention is not onlylimited to the hierarchy structure as shown in FIG. 2 but also adaptedto that as shown in FIG. 7 where all of menu items of the simplifiedmenu are extracted from the menu items of the detailed menu.

It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that the embodimentof the present invention has been described above in form of a portabletelephone set by way of example. It is not intended that the presentinvention is limited to that, but the present invention can be adaptedto PDA and other various portable information terminals capable ofreceiving and/or transmitting functions.

According to the present invention as described above, it is possible toprovide a portable terminal suitable for a variety of users who are agedor unfamiliar with the menu manipulation because the provision offrequently used functions as the simplified menu in addition to thedetailed menu. Also, in the portable terminal, the simplified anddetailed menus are switchable therebetween while the switching from thesimplified menu to the detailed menu requires complicated procedures.Due to this, it results in reduction of erroneous manipulations, e.g.,switching from the simplified menu to the detailed menu mistakenly,caused by users who are aged or unfamiliar with the menu manipulation.On the contrary, the switching from the detailed menu to the simplifiedmenu can be relatively plainly and easily executed. Accordingly, even ifswitched to the detailed menu by mistake, it is possible for users whoare aged or unfamiliar with the menu manipulation to readily return tothe simplified menu from the detailed menu.

Also, since the portable terminal is configured to display thereon thesimplified menu preferentially upon power-up or activation of theportable terminal, it is possible to easily return to the simplifiedmenu upon reactivation of the portable terminal after turning off andthen on the power supply in the event that the user is confused in themenu manipulation. Therefore, it allows users to execute various menumanipulations without anxiety.

Furthermore, since the simplified menu is designed to be displayed byusing larger letters in comparison with those used on the detailed menu,it advantageously leads to an improved operability of the portableterminal to be suitable for users who are aged or unfamiliar with themenu manipulation. In particular, if any one of items is designated by acursor during display of the simplified menu, that designated item canbe vocalized. It results in a portable terminal being excellent inoperability in particular for users who are aged or having weakeyesight.

The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention hasbeen presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light ofthe above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order tobest illustrate the principles of the invention and its practicalapplication to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to bestutilize the invention in various embodiments and with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It isintended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claimsappended hereto.

1-12. (canceled)
 13. A portable apparatus adapted to display thereon aplurality of functions as a menu for allowing a desired one of theplurality of functions to be selected and executed, comprising: saidmenu including first and second menus, each having a hierarchy structurehaving a plurality of functions, respectively; said second menu having amenu for supporting functions of said portable apparatus; said firstmenu being comprising one or more functions extracted from those of saidsecond menu and the hierarchic position of at least one of saidextracted function(s) in said hierarchy structure of said first menu islower than that of said second menu; and display switching section thatswitches between said first menu and said second menu to be displayed.14. The portable apparatus according to claim 13, wherein, in the samefunction, the expression of at least one of said functions of said firstmenu differs from that of said second menu.
 15. The portable apparatusaccording to claim 14, wherein the expression of said functions is aname of said function and said name of said function of said first menudiffers from that of said second menu.
 16. The portable apparatusaccording to claim 14, wherein the expression of said functions of saidfirst menu displayed is larger than that of said second menu.
 17. Theportable apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the expression of saidfunctions is a name of a function and the letters of said name of saidfunction of said first menu displayed are larger than those of saidsecond menu.
 18. The portable apparatus according to claim 13, whereinthe functions of which said first menu is composed are set to frequentlyused functions among those of said second menu.
 19. The portableapparatus according to claim 13, wherein each of said first and secondmenus includes a display switching function that switches from one toanother, said display switching section being activated upon executionof said display switching function.
 20. The portable apparatus accordingto claim 13, wherein the display switching function of said first menuis positioned on a deeper hierarchy than that of the display switchingfunction of said second menu.
 21. The portable apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein said first and second menus are stored in memoryregions different from each other.
 22. The portable apparatus accordingto claim 13, further comprising vocally displaying section that vocallydisplays predetermined operation contents displayed as said first menu.23. The portable apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said vocallydisplaying section is capable of, upon selection of any one of functionsdisplayed as first menu, vocalizing the selected function.
 24. Theportable apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said display switchingsection is capable of displaying said first menu preferentially uponpower on of said portable apparatus.